Removable cylinder for a lockset

ABSTRACT

A lockset includes a spindle tubular about an axis and having a wall opening. A knob is fastened on the spindle and has an aperture in axial alignment with the spindle. A cylinder body having a radially projecting tongue is disposed to slide in the spindle and move through the aperture except as obstructed by the tongue situated in the opening and confined by the marginal walls of the spindle and of the knob. The tongue can be cammed into a non-obstructing position by a tool moved in an axial direction against the tongue. A key-actuated plug is rotatable within the body between a locked position blocking access by the tool to the tongue and another position affording access by the tool to the tongue.

o Umted States Patent [1 1 11 3,776,008 Schlage Dec. 4, 1973 REMOVABLE CYLINDER FOR A LOCKSET [75] Inventor: Ernest L. Schlage, Burlingame, I Pnmary ExammerRobert Wolfe Calif. Attorney--Marcus Lothrop et al.

[73] Assrgnee: Schlage Lock Iompany, San [57] ABSTRACT Francisco, Calif. ed: May 11, 1972 A lockset includes a spindle tubular about an axis and Appl. No.: 252,487

Jacobi 70/368 having a wall opening. A knob is fastened on the spindle and has an aperture in axial alignment with the spindle. A cylinder body having a radially projecting tongue is disposed to slide in the spindle and move through the aperture except as obstructed by the tongue situated in the opening and confined by the marginal walls of the spindle and of the knob. The tongue can be eammed into a non-obstructing position by a tool moved in an axial direction against the tongue. A key-actuated plug is rotatable within the body between a locked position blocking access by the tool to the tongue and another position affordingaecess by the tool to the tongue.

9 Claims, 12 Drawing Figures rginal wall of theknob.

REMOVABLE CYLINDER FOR A LOCKSET In the construction of locksets; for example, of the sort utilized on building doors and the like, there is often employed arotary spindle whichextends through therdoor paneland is rotatable between a normal positionin which the door panel is locked and a rotatedposition in which the door panelis unlocked. The spindle is supplied with a-knob, lever or other actuating device for hand grasping and ready spindle rotation. In one style of lockset there is provided inside the spindle (and sometimes partly inside the knob, as well) a cylinder :body containing some type of locking mechanism; for

example, apin tumbler locking mechanism. The cylinder body also includes a radially extending tongue. .In

some instances some of the locking mechanism .is within the tongue. Thecylinder bodyand tonguewould be .readily movable axially of the spindle and out through an opening in the knob, except that the radially :projecting tongue is prevented fromdoingso by the marginal, surrounding walls of an opening in the spindle through which the tongue projects and by a mar- It is customary also to have a rotatable plug within the body. The plug'receives a key effective to rotate the .plug andactuate thelock. In some designs the cylinder body and its tongue andtheplug are permanently confined within the spindle and knob arrangement. With other designs it is desired to remove thetongued body andplug from thespindle through the usually circular opening provided in x the central. portionof the knob.

There are various reasons for this, such as'to change the combination of the locking mechanism in the cylinder plug and body, toreplace the cylinder body, or to repair the cylinder body and its contained plug and the locking mechanism. Usually the locking mechanism is located within. or must be reached through the knob disposed on the outside or public access side of the door. It is highly advisable to afford somemeans for preventing removal of the locking mechanism by unauthorized persons. It is equally desirable to provide it ready removal of the locking mechanism by authorized persons and without the necessity of doing substantial dismantling of thelockset nor of using specialized or individualized tools. It is furthermore desirable to provide a removable mechanism which can readily be incorporated in or utilized with locksets already available so that large mechanical changes are not necessary.

It is therefore an object of my invention to provide a lockset that has a cylinder and related mechanism removable from the front or exterior of the lockset through the knob opening, but only by a person having a proper key for thelockset and with the use of a'simple auxiliary tool, such as a small nail or rod or wire.

Another object of the invention is to provide a removable cylinder for a lockset that can readily be incorporated in locksetsalready available.

Another object of the invention is to provide a removable cylinder for a lockset that is generally a substantial improvement on removable cylinder units heretofore available.

Other objects together with the foregoing are attained in the embodiments of the invention described in the accompanying description and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a cross-section on an axial vertical plane through a lockset pursuant to the invention, much of the standard mechanism of the lockset being omitted for clarity and the key' mechanism being shown :in phantom lines;

FIG. 2 is a front elevation of the structure shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. l but to an enlarged scale and showing muchofthe interior mechanism in cross-section on a vertical axiaLplane, various portions being broken away to reduce the size of the figure;

FIG. 4 is :an isometric view of an alternate form of tongue to that shown-in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is. a fragmentary isometric view showing .a modified form of plug mechanism;

FIG. 6.is an isometric fragmentaryview of amodified form of plug mechanism;

FIG. 7 is an isometric view of a modified form of tongue;

. FIG..-8is an isometric .view like FIG. 7.of afurther modified form of tongue;

FIG. 9 is aview like FIG. 7 but showing a stilllfurther modified form of tongue;

FIG is another view like FIG. 7 and showing a stil further modified form of tongue;

FIG. 11 is a cross-section on a vertical .axial plane somewhat comparableto FIG. 3 with certain portions being omittedbut showing an additionally modified the tongue-mechanism in a difierent position.

.In arepresentative installation a generallyrstandard .lockset is mounted in a door or comparable panel 5 represented diagrammatically in FIG. 1. Included in the lockset mechanism is a tubular spindle 6 generally sym-.

metrical about a rotational axis 7 in the customary way. The spindle 6 includes a wall 8 usually of metal having near one end an axially extending slot 9 cuttherein.

:Carried bythe spindle 6 is a door operator .11 such as a knob or lever, a knob being illustrated herein, and including a shank 12 having a displaced portion 13 extending into a. cutaway portionl4in the spindle. The knob 11 is thus immovable relative to the spindle. The knob 11 has any desiredcontour, and inthepresent case is inclusive of a concave outer portion 16 having a central inturned flange l7 defining a concentriccircular opening 18. It is considered. that the knob 11 is on the exterior side of the door 5. The knob is utilized also as a housing for a cylinder-body-Zl which may incorporate any suitable sort of locking instrumentality, such as a pin tumbler mechanism. A suitable arrange ment is shown in the copending application of Ernest L. Schlage, Ser. No. 178,561, filed September .8, 1971 and entitled Binary Multi -Plane Cylinder. Since the locking mechanism per se is not part of the claimed subject matter of this case, it is not illustrated in detail.

The cylinder body 21 is generally a circularcylindrical, tube-like structure augmented by a tongue 22 projecting radially therefrom. The tongue fits slidably within the-elongated openingor slot9 in the spindle 6, and the body '21 is loose enough so that the .body and tongue can easily be moved in the direction of the axis 7 into and out of position within the spindle. Rotary movement of the body is precluded by the projecting tongue engaging the side walls of the slot 9, and

axial movement is restrained as the innermost end of the projecting tongue is closely adjacent to the margin 23 or end wall of the slot 9.

The other end of the projecting tongue is stopped by the flange 17 at the inside endof theknob 11. The circular flange is in alignment with the spindle 6, and while the opening 18 is large enough to pass the body 21, it does not permit the passage of the extended tongue 22. In this fashion the cylinder body is retained in place and against removal from its mounting, as the knob is substantially permanently secured to the spindle by the displaced portion 13.

Designed to rotate about the axis 7 and within a bore 26 in the cylinder body is a cylinder plug 27 of generally tubular form having an interior opening 28 for van appropriate key 29. The plug 27 is confined axially at one end by a removable securing ring 30 mounting a driver bar 31 for rotation with the plug 27. The ring 30 abuts the end of the body 21 and so stops relative axial movement between the plug and the body in one direction.

At the other end the plug 27 is especially formed to provide a substantially unitary, outstanding, annular flange 32. The plug 27 is originally made with a small outturned tubular ring 33, whereas the flange 32 is made with an internal groove 34. The parts are initially assembled and then the ring 33 is expanded radially outward until it lies within the groove 34 and is so distorted as in effect permanently to unite the plug 27 and the flange 32. The resulting flange 32 on the plug is disposed within the tubular flange 17 of the knob and abuts against the end of the body 21 so as to preclude axial plug movement in one direction.

It is desirable to be able to remove the plug and body as a unit from the spindle and through the opening 18, but this is normally precluded by the extended tongue 22. To afford the desired action, a special form of depressible tongue is employed. To that end the body 21 in a direction parallel to the axis 7 is formed with a channel 36 defined by side walls such as 37 and by a bottom wall 38, the channel being generally rectangular in cross-section in a plane normal to the axis 7.

Designed to fit freely within the channel so formed is the specially made depressible tongue 22. In this instance the tongue includes a top plate 41 stiffened by a pair of side walls such as 42 and includes a resilient leaf member 43. This is preferably integral with the remaining structure and is designed to rest on the channel bottom 38 and, when unstressed, to hold the tongue substantially in the position illustrated. When a force is exerted radially inward on the tongue 22, the tongue is depressed from its radially outer, blocking position into an inner unblocking or free position in which the radially outermost portion of the tongue is well within the compass of the flange 32 and of the body 21. When the tongue is in its withdrawn, inner or free position, it affords no hindrance to the axial withdrawal of the lock unit and its appurtenances.

Means are particularly provided for depressing the tongue, as indicated. The flange 32, as shown in FIG. 2, is provided with a central opening 44 to receive the key 29. The opening 44 is enlarged by an extension 45 for receiving an eccentric pin 46 on the key, so that the key when fully engaged with the flange 32 is connected to rotate the flange.

In addition, and preferably symmetrically disposed with regard to the extension 45, are openings 47 and 48 extending entirely through the flange and adapted readily to receive a tool 49 (FIG. 3), such as a nail or a length of wire or any comparable rod. The extension 45 is upright when the lock is locked. Any implement 49 introduced into the opening 47 or the opening 48 while the unit is in locked condition simply abuts ineffectively against the adjacent, solid end of the body 21.

openings 47 and 48 is also rotated into alignment, as

shown in FIG. 3, with the end of the channel 36 and can readily be moved into the channel in an axial direction.

Advantage is taken of this arrangement to retract or depress the tongue 22. For that reason the top plate 41 of the tongue does not continue for its entire length parallel to the axis. Rather, at its forward end and adjacent the openings 47 and 48 the plate 41 is provided with an inclined portion 51 having an exposed cam surface 52 disposed at such an angle that a tool 49 guided by the walls of the opening 47 or 48 and moved axially into and along the channel encounters the surface 52.

, The axial force imposed by the tool is translated into a radial force component. This forces the tongue 22 inwardly toward the axis, flexing the spring 43 and moving the outermost plate 41 of the tongue to and within a position having a radius smaller than the opening 18. At least, the portion of the tongue engaged by the tool is so withdrawn.

When the tongue has been depressed, the key, the plug and the body, as well as the tool, are all moved unitarily out of the spindle axially through the opening 18 and are available for replacement, revision or repair. The withdrawal is not hindered by the driver bar 31, which customarily has an axially sliding engagement with the rest of the lock mechanism. The key does not separate from the plug during withdrawal, since the locking mechanism within the plug is such that the key cannot be withdrawn therefrom unless the plug is in a locked condition with the extension 45 upright, as shown in FIG. 2.

When the unit is to be reassembled a reverse sequence is followed, although it is not necessary to utilize the tool 49. The user can insert the body 21 through the opening 18 into the end of the spindle, since the tongue top plate 41 tends to cam against the adjacent portion 16 of the knob and depresses sufficiently to start the tongue through the flange 17. Alternatively, the user may by hand depress the advancing end of the tongue sufficiently to start it through the flange 17. As the unit is forced further inwardly into the spindle along the direction of the axis, it advances until the entire tongue 22 is substantially in the axial position shown in FIGS. 1 and 3. Thereupon the spring 43 is effective to project the tongue radially from its inner, non-restraining position into its outer, restraining position, and the parts are in place as before. It is not necessary that the key be returned with the body and plug, since the depression of the tongue isinitially done exteriorly.

In some instances it is preferred to have a direct interlock between a depressible tongue, such as 22, and theplug 27. In that instance, as shown in FIG. 6, the plug 27a carries a flange 324 as before, but between those parts there is disposed a non-circular section 56. Preferably, this is a square disposed with diagonal corners of the square in a vertical attitude. To cooperate with the section 56 the tongue plate 41a is augmented by an interlock plate 57 having a central opening 58 of adequate size freely to permit the rotation of the square section 56, but also extended to form a pocket opening 59 having a transverse dimension substantially the same as one side of the square section 56.

When the section 56 is in its normal, locked position with the diagonal of the square vertical, then the diagonal, transverse dimension of the square is too great to permit depression of theplate 57 or of the tongue 22. However, when the plug 27a is rotated through about 45 in either direction out of locked position, then the sides of the square are substantially in alignment with the sides of the pocket opening 59 and the plate 41a of the tongue can easily be depressed by a tool, as before. With this arrangement it is necessary to have the key in position and to have the plug 27a turned out of locked position toward unlocked position in either direction before the removable unit can be withdrawn or can be restored to its position within the spindle. If this interlocking feature is not desired, the remaining construction can operate as before simply by changing the interlocking section 56 from its square cross-section into a tubular cross-section 61, as shown in FIG. 5, of a diameter slightly less than the transverse dimension of the pocket opening 59.

FIGS. 1 and 4 show two slightly different constructions for the tongue, and there are other variations in tongue construction that are of interest. While the spring structure and the interlock structure are not illustrated, there can be provided a tongue 22b, as shown in FIG. 7, including a top wall 41b within which an opening 62 is provided to expose a cam surface plate 52b extending between side walls 42b. As shown in FIG. 8, the tongue 22c has a top plate 410 with one end cut away to expose a cam surface plate 52c between side walls 42c and affording a relatively stiff, simple construction. An arrangement without a top wall is shown in FIG. 9 in which side walls 42d are maintained parallel to each other and in proper relationship by an intervening, inclined plate 51d having a cam surface 52d. This structure is not quite as stiff as the preceding ones but utilizes very little material.

The arrangement shown in FIG. includes a channel 63 having side walls 42e and an inclined plate Sle defining a cam surface 52c. With this arrangement the cam surface 52e is close to the exterior of the lockset and is quickly available to a releasing tool.

As shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, the channel 36 in the body 21 is occupied, in part,.by a different form of tongue. In this instance the tongue is a rocker lever 66 carried by a transversely extending pivot pin 67 spanning the channel and imbedded in the body 21 on opposite sides of the channel to serve as a fulcrum. The tongue 66 near its central portion is well within the confines of the channel, but at its exterior end 68 and at its interior end 69 extends well above the confines of the body in order that the tongue ends may serve as stops when the tongue is in the position shown in FIG.

The tongue has a cam surface 71 quite comparable to the cam surface 52 and is spring-pressed into its central blocking position. A spring metal sleeve 72 surrounds the body 21 for the most part, but is interrupted in an axial direction to clear all of the tongue except for a central, spring bridge 73 or finger which extends across the channel and is in immediate abutment with the inclined sides 74 and 76 of the tongue. In the position shown in FIG. 11, the spring holds the tongue in a centralized position of equilibrium. Axial advancement of a special tool against the cam surface 71 rocks the tongue 66 about the pivot 67, as shown in FIG. 12, and against the bridge spring 73, which is lifted slightly. When the tongue has been so rocked, the forward half of the tongue is well within the confines of the opening 18, and the body and its contained plug can start through the opening in the flange 17.

The body and its contained plug can be fully withdrawn, since the wall 76, which is raised when the wall 74 is depressed, in turn is depressed by camming against the edge of the flange 17 and passes thereunder with ease. When the tongue leaves the flange 17, the then-tensioned bridge spring 73 restores the tongue to its equilibrium position, as shown in FIG. 11.

During all of this operation the key is inserted and rotated out of locked position in order to permit the insertion of the camming tool, as previously described.

To reinsert the body and plug, it is merely necessary for the user initially to depress the wall 76 of the tongue into the position parallel with the axis and start it through the flange 17. Further movement causes the tongue to rock as it is being introduced until it is virtually into the position shown in FIG. 11 and has been re stored to. its blocking position by the bridge spring 73.

What is claimed is: 1

1. A removable cylinder for a lockset having a member extending along an axis, said member being tubular and having a wall with an opening therein comprising a cylinder body adapted to be moved axially into and out of a position in said member overlapping said opening, a tongue extending axially along said body and mounted in said body for radial movement between an outer position projecting from the outside of said body into said opening and an inner position near the outside of said body out of said opening, means on said tongue defining a cam surface inclined in. an axial direction, a plug rotatable in said body about said axis, and means on said plug adapted in one rotary position thereof to overlie said cam surface on said tongue in an axial direction and in another rotary position thereof to clear said cam surface on said tongue in said axial direction.

2. A device as in claim 1 in which said plug is key rotated. I

3. A device as in claim 1 in which said member is a hollow spindle and said opening is an axially extending slot in said wall thereof.

4. A device as in claim 3 in which said tongue is axially elongated and is adapted substantially to occupy said slot.

5. A device as in claim 1 in which said cam surface is inclined in a direction to impose on said tongue a force component toward said axis when a force parallel to said axis is imposed on said cam surface.

6. A device as in claim 1 including a knob mounted on said member for rotation therewith and disposed in the path of axial movement of said tongue in the direction of removal of said body from said member when said tongue is in said outer position.

7. A device as in claim 6 including means for substantially permanently fixing said knob on said member.

8. A device as in claim 1 in which said means includes an end flange on said plug having an opening therein adapted in one rotary position of said plug in said body to align axially with said cam surface on said tongue, said surface being inclined to move said tongue toward said inner position when engaged by a tool extending through said opening and moved axially along said cam surface.

9. A device as in claim 1 in which said plug is key rotated into and out of locked position and including means for blocking inward radial movement of said tongue unless said plug is key rotated at least partway out of locked position. 

1. A removable cylinder for a lockset having a member extending along an axis, said member being tubular and having a wall with an opening therein comprising a cylinder body adapted to be moved axially into and out of a position in said member overlapping said opening, a tongue extending axially along said body and mounted in said body for radial movement between an outer position projecting from the outside of said body into said opening and an inner position near the outside of said body out of said opening, means on said tongue defining a cam surface inclined in an axial direction, a plug rotatable in said body about said axis, and means on said plug adapted in one rotary position thereof to overlie said cam surface on said tongue in an axial direction and in another rotary position thereof to clear said cam surface on said tongue in said axial direction.
 2. A device as in claim 1 in which said plug is key rotated.
 3. A device as in claim 1 in which said member is a hollow spindle and said opening is an axially extending slot in said wall thereof.
 4. A device as in claim 3 in which said tongue is axially elongated and is adapted substantially to occupy said slot.
 5. A device as in claim 1 in which said cam surface is inclined in a direction to impose on said tongue a force component toward said axis when a force parallel to said axis is imposed on said cam surface.
 6. A device as in claim 1 including a knob mounted on said member for rotation therewith and disposed in the path of axial movement of said tongue in the direction of removal of said body from said member when said tongue is in said outer position.
 7. A device as in claim 6 including means for substantially permanently fixing said knob on said member.
 8. A device as in claim 1 in which said means includes an end flange on said plug having an opening therein adapted in one rotary position of said plug in said body to align axially with said cam surface on said tongue, said surface being inclined to move said tongue toward said inner position when engaged by a tool extending through said opening and moved axially along said cam surface.
 9. A device as in claim 1 in which said plug is key rotated into and out of locked position and including means for blocking inward radial movement of said tongue unless said plug is key rotated at least partway out of locked position. 